New Culinary Arts Education Center at SRJC

The new B. Robert Burdo Culinary Arts Center was formally dedicated in a ceremony held April 20 at Santa Rosa Junior College.

A number of students of Healdsburg High's culinary program and have expressed interest in the SRJC culinary arts program.

The 22,000-square-foot facility trains aspiring chefs, bakers and restaurant managers, and many find employment at restaurants, hotels, wineries and catering firms in Sonoma County, an international destination for food and wine aficionados.

B. Robert Burdo has served as a member of the SRJC Board of Trustees for more than 26 years. His leadership and experience has been instrumental in the college’s facilities development. Burdo, a third generation Sebastopol apple grower, attended the dedication with his wife, Elaina, and their four children.

The Culinary Arts Center was completed with $20 million in local bonds from voter-approved Measure A, which earmarked funds for construction projects at SRJC. The building has three state-of-the-art teaching kitchens, a production bakery, fine dining café and bakery open to the public.

“The board of trustees is excited about the impact of the culinary program in the community. We’re proud of the contributions the college makes to the community and appreciative of community support,” said SRJC trustee Rick Call during the dedication ceremony. “It’s what the community wanted and because of all of you, it’s become a reality.”

One of the key goals of the culinary program is to train students for professional employment as quickly as possible, said Culinary Arts department chair Michael Salinger. The SRJC Center for Culinary Careers, which matches students with local hospitality businesses, was launched in 2007. More than 300 employers have hired students through this service, and each month an average of 10 students find jobs.

“I want to thank the citizens for approving the bond,” said Burdo. “My family has been farming in Sonoma County since the 1850s, and culinary arts has always played an important role in the Burdo family.”

For further information about the SRJC B. Robert Burdo Culinary Arts Center and the culinary arts department, contact 522-2800 or www.santarosa.edu/instruction/culinary-arts. To make a reservation at the café, which is open to the public for lunch Wednesday through Friday, call 522-2796.